Hours after the devastating landslide struck Wayanad on 30th July, Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji directed Hon’ble Minister of State for Minority Affairs, Fishing, Animal Husbandry & Fishing Shri George Kurian to rush to the site and lead relief and rescue operations. Prior to that Hon’ble Prime Minister spoke to the Chief Minister of Kerala Shri Pinarayi Vijayan and assured all help and assistance. Hon’ble Prime Minister has been monitoring the situation.
Immediately after reaching Wayanad by 30th July evening, the Hon’ble Minister George Kurian took stock of the rescue and relief operations with senior officials of NDRF, CRPF, Indian Army, Indian Navy and state government officials. Hon’ble Minister visited hospitals and relief camps and consoled family members of the deceased.
On 31st July, Hon’ble Minister visited Chural Mala, where 120 families were washed away in the cloudburst. 70 bodies buried in the soil have been retrieved from this area. Bracing the inclement weather and hostile terrain, Hon’ble Minister visited Mundakai, the epicentre of the landslide. Several bodies have been recovered from the site.
After the Hon’ble Prime Minister spoke to the Hon’ble Chief Minister, 2 teams of NDRF, 2 columns of Indian Army and 2 IAF helicopters were pressed into action on 30th July. Three additional teams of NDRF, with search and rescue equipment, were also deployed. A dog squad has also been deployed to help forces in rescue operations.
A total of 60 Bailey bridges were dispatched from Bengaluru and Kozhikode. Indian Air Force has pressed a total of six helicopters into action while Indian Navy has been providing food and other essential materials to people inaccessible areas through its helicopter. Six more helicopters have been put in stand-by mode in Thirvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Bengaluru and Coimbatore.
The Indian Navy’s ship INS Zamorin has been deployed to assist in establishing movement of rescue workers to the other side of the damaged bridge.
Search/relief and rehabilitation efforts are on in full swing. Hon’ble Minister assured the victims of all help by the Central government.
